Tax-exempt special savings account

In the UK, the tax-exempt special savings account (TESSA) was one of a number of tax-free savings accounts. The TESSA was announced by John Major in his only budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1990 (a budget for savings). The TESSA was intended to be a low-risk complement to the personal equity plan (PEP) which would be attractive to a wider range of savers.